Liquid heating and dispensing appliance

ABSTRACT

A compact appliance for rapidly heating small quantities of water and dispensing the heated water into a cup or vessel. The appliance includes a stainless steel reservoir having a heating element brazed to the bottom thereof and a thermostat which extends through the bottom wall of the reservoir to sense the temperature of the liquid contained therein. The thermostat is a manually resettable thermostat which is operable by means of a lever extending through the front wall of the appliance in close proximity to a second lever which operates a valve to dispense the heated liquid into a vessel. The cover for the reservoir is provided with means to return the condensed water vapor to the reservoir rather than permitting it to run into the interior of the housing.

Augustine et al.

Filed:

LIQUID HEATING AND DISPENSING APPLIANCE Inventors: Robert J. Augustine,Downers Grove; Jean P. Du Bois, Villa Park; Joseph L. Vieeeli, LaGrange,all of Assignee: Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111.

Aug. 31, 1973 Appl. No.: 393,411

US. Cl. 219/312; 99/281; 99/288;

Int. Cl. 1105b 1/02; F24h 1/18; B67d 5/62 Field of Search 219/214,310-316, 219/327-331, 335, 336, 296-308, 401, 436,

438, 441, 442; 137/341; 99/280-283, 288-291, 295, 299-307, 316; 222/146R, 146 H, 146 HE; 239/133-136; 21/95 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS Duberstein et al 21/95 UX Tillison 219/312 X Primary Examiner-A.Bartis Attorney. Agent. or FirmGeorgc R. Clark; Neil M. Rose; John S.Pacocha [57] ABSTRACT A compact appliance for rapidly heating smallquantities of water and dispensing the heated water into a cup orvessel. The appliance includes a stainless steel reservoir having aheating element brazed to the bottom thereof and a thermostat whichextends through the bottom wall of the reservoir to sense thetemperature of the liquid contained therein. The thermostat is amanually resettable thermostat which is operable by means of a leverextending through the front wall of the appliance in close proximity toa second lever which operates a valve to dispense the heated liquid intoa vessel. The cover for the reservoir is provided with means to returnthe condensed water vapor to the reservoir rather than permitting it torun into the As1esem..... 2.. 219 401 x interior of the housing- Brown219/312 X Bowen et a1. 219/328 x 8 11 D'awmg Flgures 1 65d 1 i as l' L65v 2&- 25

l 34 a 25m; 22 62 L 15 31 278 anm j 32 59 61 I 576 l g l 60 57 ti 1a 486:r 2

t i 1 i 20 i i l i ea I t i t i E l l 18 I .6 i 67 17 APR 1 3, 78,360

RESETTA BLE THERMOSTA 7' LIQUID HEATING AND DISPENSING APPLIANCEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The trend toward the use of materials andmixes which make it easy to prepare instantly beverages which formerlyrequired cooking and brewing has re sulted in a demand for applianceswhich boil water quickly and easily. Since the housewife is accustomedto heating or boiling water in a saucepan on the stove. any appliancewhich essentially does nothing more than heat or boil water must be bothinexpensive and provide additional advantages if it is to be anacceptable appliance. Some of the first and least expensive appliancesof this type involve immersion heaters which are merely inserted into acup or small vessel to heat the contents. Such appliances are hazardousin that if they are not used with considerable care. there is a dangerof receiving an electrical shock or of burning oneself in handling theexposed heating element.

Other more sophisticated appliances for heating and boiling liquidsconsist of electrified teakettles which are nothing more than teakettleswith built-in electrical heating elements. While such appliances couldquickly heat quantities of liquid more efficiently and more rapidly thansimilar vessels uscd in connection with the burner or heating elementsof the stove, they were expensive and unappealing to the housewivessince they offered little advantage other than the improved efficiency.The electric kettles. however. looked and functioned-much like thenon-electric kettles which have always been used on the surface units ofthe stove.

There have been some attempts at making small heating pots which wouldrapidly heat a small quantity of water. Such small electrical vesselsare difficult to handle and again have enjoyed little commercialsuccess. It is evident, however, that in view of the increased use ofinstant coffee, tea. soup, bouillon, cocoa and other drinks, thereexists a substantial demand for an inexpensive appliance for heatingwater to a temperature just below the boiling point.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention includes a water reservoirmade of stainless steel to prevent corrosion and having associated withit a sheathed heating element brazed to the bottom of the reservoir. Theheating element is of extremely high wattage so that one cup of watercan be heated to the boiling point in less than a minute, and

two cups in less than a minute and a half. The low mass of the reservoircontributes to the speed with which the heating is accomplished sincevery little of heat input is required to increase the temperature of thevessel itself. A thermostat is provided to de-energize the heatingelement when the water within the vessel is just below the boilingpoint. In order to obtain prompt response for the thermostat,particularly in view of the light weight of the reservoir and the poorheat conducting characteristics of stainless steel, the thermostat ispositioned to extend through the wall of the reservoir where it will bein contact with the water contained therein. By utilizing light gagematerial for the reservoir, the lip of the reservoir by which it issupported on the plastic housing remains relatively cool in spite of thehigh heat input by the heating element.

The thermostat: is of a manually resetable type and is controlled by alever which extends outside of the housing in which the reservoir issupported. A plastic valve is provided at the outlet of the reservoir tocontrol the dispensing of the heated water into a vessel which may bepositioned below the reservoir. A silicone rubber tube connects thereservoir to the plastic valve so that the plastic is effectivelyinsulated from the high temperatures existing at the bottom of thereservoir during energization of the heating element. The appliancehousing is formed with a recess or pocket below the reser' voir which isintended to receive a cup or small vessel into which the heated watermay be dispensed. The reservoir valve is controlled by a second leverwhich also extends outwardly of the housing where it may be manuallyactuated.

The cup shaped reservoir is closed by a hingeable cover which has acylindrical wall positioned to extend into the reservoir itself. Thecylindrical wall tends to restrict the area in which water vapor willcondense on the cover to the area within the cylindrical wall. Thisresults in the condensed moisture being returned to the reservoir ratherthan leaking into the interior of the housing where electrical shortsmight be caused. A second baffle located between the cylindrical walland the hinge on the cover tends to direct additional condensed moistureback into the reservoir. particularly when the cover is opened.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved appliance for quickly and efficiently heating and dispensingwater.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple andinexpensive appliance which automatically heats a small quantity ofwater to a temperature just below the boiling point at which time asignal is provided to indicate to the operator that the water is readyto be dispensed by valve means into a cup or vessel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waterheating appliance which has an open top reservoir for easy filling and acover which is formed with baffles to prevent water condensation frombeing dispensed or leaking into areas other than the reservoir itself.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved water heating appliance having a simple and inexpensive valveand control means for dispensing the water heated therein.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize theinvention will be pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming apartof the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of awater heating and dispensing appliance embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the waterheating and dispensing appliance of FIGS. 1 and 2 with all but onecorner of the closure plate of the rear housing opening removed toexpose the interior portions;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thermostat control lever; 1

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control lever for operating thewater dispensing valve;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of athe reservoir for the liquid heatingand dispensing appliance;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the hinged cover for thereservoir;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the top of theclosure plate;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of theappliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings. there is shown inFIG. 1 a water heating and dispensing appliance designated gencrally byreference number 11. The appliance 11 includes a housing 12 which ismade up of a forward housing member 13 and a rear closure member 14. Asmay best be seen in FIG. 2, the forward housing member 13 provides anupper chamber 15 and a cord storage space 16, both of which are closedby the closure member 14.

The forward housing member 13 is formed with a horizontally extendingbase portion 17 which has low walls 18'along either edge thereof, whichwalls tend to position or locate a cup or vessel which might be placedon the base portion 17. Extending upwardly from the rear edge of thebase portion 17 is a cylindrical wall 20, which with the base portion 17and walls 18 defines the pocket or recess within which the cup or vesselmay be received. I

The cylindrical wall 20 is connected at its edges to walls 21 whichextend upwardly the entire length of the housing member 13. As is mostevident from FIG. 1, the walls 21 become wider toward the top of thehousing member 13 and are joined at their forward edges by a front wall22. Angling upwardly from the top of the cylindrical wall 20 to thefront wall 22 is a wall 23 which is best shown in FIG. 2. The angledwall 23, together with the front wall 22 and the sidewalls 21 define inpart the chamber 15 within which a reservoir 25 is received. Consideredfrom broad functional standpoint, the housing 12 described aboveconsists ofa base which supports a reservoir enclosing portion by meansof a column-like portion defined by walls 20 and 21. The housing 12 islittle more than a frame to support and enclose the reservoir and itsassociated heating and valving means. The reservoir 25 is a drawnstainless steel cup having cylindrical sidewalls 25a and a bottom wall25b. The reservoir 25 has a very low mass and heat capacity being smallin sizehaving a capacity of only I0 ounces and being made of lightweightmaterial having a thickness of only l/32 inch. At the center of thebottom wall 25b, there is an opening defined by a down turned flange25c. Connected to the flange 25c is a discharge spout 26. Also securedto the bottom of the reservoir 25 is a sheathed heating element 27 whichis best shown in FIG. 6. The heating element 27 is a sheathed heatingelement having a helical configuration with approximately 2% turns as isevident in FIG. 6. The heating element includes a steel outer tubularsheath 27a within which a resistance wire element 27b is supported bycompacted magnesium oxide 270. The heating element is formed with.downwardly turned ends 27d from which the element terminals 27e extend.

At the top or mouth of the reservoir 25, there is provided an annularflange 25d. The housing member 13 is formed with a horizontal wall28-which is provided with enlarged opening 29 which is shouldered inorder to support the annular flange 25d. A suitable room temperaturevulcanizing adhesive material is utilized between the annular flange 25dand the shoulder formed on the reservoir opening 29 to insure againstany leakage from around the reservoir 25 into the chamber 15. Thereservoir 25 is retained in place by the adhesive mentioned above, aswell as a bracket 31 which extends downwardly as shown in FIG. 2 to aposition where it receives a screw which is threaded into engagementwith a boss 32 formed on the inside of the front wall 22 of the housingmember 13. To assemble the bracket 31, the sheathed heating element 27and the discharge spout 26 to the bottom of the stainless steelreservoir 25, a copper brazing process is used. The three elements maybe brazed to the reservoir in a single operation.

In order to sense the temperature of water received within the reservoir25, there is provided a small thermostat 34 which extends through anopening formed in the bottom 25b of the reservoir 25. The thermostat 34has a sealing flange 34a located beneath the bottom wall of thereservoir 25b. A suitable room temperature vulcanizing adhesive isplaced between the flange 34a and the bottom wall 25b to prevent leakagethrough the opening provided for the thermostat 34. In orderto retainthe thermostat 34 in place while the adhesive is curing and to assure asecure assembly, there is provided a bracket 35 which issomewhatU-shaped as shown in FIG. 2 and has a centrally disposed opening inwhich the discharge spout 26 is received. One upwardly extending leg ofthe bracket 35 engages the reservoir bottom 25 and the other upwardlyextending leg engages the thermostat flange 34a. An assembly washer 36having projecting portions in interfering engagement with the dischargespout 26 retains the bracket 35 in assembled position.

The thermostat 34 is of a conventional disc type being calibrated toopen the electrical circuit when the water nears the boiling point. Thethermostat 34 includes electrical terminals 37 and 38, as well as acentrally disclosed manual reset button 39 as are best shown in FIG. 6.The manual reset button may be pushed upwardly to close the electricalcircuit through the thermostat 34 and begin the heating of water withinthe reservoir 25. The actuation of the reset button 39 is accomplishedby means of the lever 40 which is,

shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the reset lever 40 is pivoted abouttrunnions 40a which are received.

within rearwardly facing slots 41 formed on walls 42 which arepositioned parallel to and adjacent a slot 43 formed in the front wall22. The outer end of the lever 40 is formed with a projection 40b onwhich is received the actuator bar 44. The end of the reset lever 40remote from the projection 40b is provided with a horizontally disposedflat portion 400 which is positioned to abut against the recess button39. Thus when a downward pressure is applied against the actuator bar44, the lever 40 is rotated about trunnions 40a causing the portion 400to move into actuating engagement with the reset button 39.

In order to retain the lever 40 in position in the slots 41 and rotatethe lever 40 out of engagement with the reset button 39, there isprovided a leaf spring 45 which bears against the angled portion 40a ofthe reset lever 40. The leaf spring 45 has a mounting portion 45a whichis received on an integrally molded projection on the front wall 22 ofthe forward housing member 13. Extending downwardly and rearwardly fromthe mounting portion 45a is a portion 451) which extends into engagementwith angled portion 40d.

For the purpose of controlling the flow from the reservoir 25, there isprovided a valve 47 which is located immediately below the reservoir 25.The valve 47 is made up of two simple plastic parts within which asimple plunger type valve is received. These plastic parts include themain valve body 48 which has an inlet passageway 480, a valve seat 4812and guide means 480 for a valve rod 49. The valve body 48 also includesa channel portion 48d which defines half of the valve outlet ordischarge. Positioned rearwardly of valve seat 4817 is a valve cover 50which is formed with a channel 50a which cooperates with channel 48d toprovide a discharge passageway from the valve 47. This dischargepassageway formed by channels 48d and 50a extends through an opening 23aformed in the angled wall 23 of the housing member 13.

The movable part of the valve 47 includes the valve rod 49 whichsupports at its rearwardly projecting end a valve sealing member 51which is made of a resilient material such as rubber and is retained ina groove of reduced diameter adjacent the end of the rod 49. The otherend of the rod 49 is formed with an enlargement 49a against which aspring 52 abuts to urge the valve sealing member 51 into engagement withthe valve seat 48b. The guide 480 serves to guide the enlargement 49aand encloses the spring 52 which at its end toward the sealing member 51seats against a metal washer overlying a rubber washer (not shown) toseal against water leakage along rod 49. It should be appreciated thatthe valve 47 is extremely simple in construction and simple tofabricate. To assemble the various parts the rod 49 is simply insertedthrough the spring 52 and its associated sealing washers which areplaced in the guide 48c. The valve sealing member 51 is then assembledto the end of the rod 49 by merely slipping it over the end of the rod.The sealing member 51 then prevents the rod from being detached from thevalve body 48. The valve cover 50 and the valve body 48 are retainedtogether and assembled to the forward housing member 13 by means ofscrews 53 which extend into threaded openings formed in mounting bosses54 formed on the upper surface of the angled wall 23.

The reservoir discharge spout 26 is connected to the inlet passageway48a of the valve 47 by means of a piece of flexible tube 55. Thedischarge spout 26 is formed with a ridge or enlargement 26a which tendsto retain the flexible'tubing 55 in position on the discharge spout 26.The tubing 55 is preferably made of a silicone tubing so as to resistthe high temperatures found in the areas adjacent to the heating element27. The tubing 55 also serves to insulate the plastic valve body 48 fromtheeffects of the high temperatures present on the bottom of reservoirduring heating of water therein.

For the purpose of actuating the valve rod 49, there is provided a valveactuating lever 57 which is shown in perspective in FIG. 5. The lever 57is somewhat similar to the lever 40 in that it is supported on trunnions570 which are received in slots 58 formed in the walls 59 which wallsare located in spaced parallel relationship extending as is best shownin FIG. 3. The lever 57 has a forward projection 60 on one end thereofwhich receives an actuating bar 61 which is exposed at the front of thehousing 12 as shown in FIG. I. The lever 57 is formed with a flatplate-like portion 57b which extends generally radially with respect tothe trunnions 57a and is positioned to engage the end of the valve rod49 as may be seen in FIG. 2. Thus when the actuating bar 61 isdepressed. the valve actuating lever 57 is rotating counter-clockwise asshown in FIG. 2 causing the plate-like portion 57b to force the rod 49rearwardly thus unseating the sealing member 51 with respect to thevalve seat 48b.

- In order to bias the valve actuating lever 57 clockwise as shown inFIG. 2, there is provided a leaf spring 62 which is positioned-to engageangled portion 570 of the lever 57. The spring 62 has amounting portion62a which is received on a boss molded integrally with the front wall 22as is best shown in FIG. 2. Extending rearwardly and downwardly from themounting portion 62a is the body portion 6212 which at its rearward endengages portion 570 of the lever 57. The spring 62 not only biases thelever 57 in a clockwise direction but also retains the trunnions 57aassembled in the slots 58.

The reservoir 25 is provided with a cover 65 which is hingeably securedto the housing 12 at the rear edge thereof. The cover 65 has a generallyhorizontally disposed body portion 65a which terminates at its edges ina downwardly extending peripheral flange 65b which normally rests inengagement with the top wall 28 of the housing member 13. At the forwardend extending outwardly from the peripheral flange 65b near the front ofthe cover 65 are handle extensions 650 which permit the cover to belifted upwardly for filling the reservoir 25. Along the portion offlange 65]; extending along the rear edge of the cover 65 there areprovided integrally mounted axle members 65d which are spaced from theflange 6512 by slots 65e. At the upper edge of the rear closure member14, there are provided two spaced for wardly facing channel shapedmembers 14a (see FIG. 8). The upper ends of the channel shaped members14a extend through openings 65e in the cover 65. When the cover 65 islifted to provide access to the reservoir 25, the axle members 65drotate in the channel portions 14a thus permitting the cover 65 to pivotwith respect to the housing 12.

The inner ends of the axle members 65d extend beyond the openings 652and are connected to the flange 65b. These connected portions of theaxle members 65d are received in an upwardly facing channel member 66which is molded integrally with the housing member 13 and extendsrearwardly as is best shown in FIGS.-2, 3 and 10. The upwardly facingchannel member 66 is positioned between the channel portions 14a. Thealigned channels provided by the member 66 and the portions 14apivotally connect the cover 65 to housing 12 by means of the axlemembers 65d. In order to assemble the cover to the housing, the axlemembers 65d are laid in the upwardly facing channel member 66 with thecover in the horizontal position and the rear closure member 14 isassembled to the forward housing member I3 and retained in position byscrews 67 which extend through the closure member into threadedengagement with the housing member 13.

Because of the small area of the reservoir 25 and the fact that thewater contained therein is heated to a temperature just below theboiling point, there is a considerable amount of water vapor which tendsto condense on the cover 65. In orderto prevent this condensation fromleaking into the housing 12 or down the sides of the appliance 11, thecover 65 is provided with a cylindrical wall 65fwhich is of slightlysmaller diameter than the reservoir and which extends downwardly intothe reservoir 25 a distance of approximately threecighths inch. As watercondenses on the cover 65, most of it tends to condense in the areawithin the cylinder wall 65f. Accordingly, when the cover is lifted to avertical position to permit the filling of the reservoir 25. themoisture tends to stay within the cylindrical wall and when the cover isreturned to its horizontal position the condensed moisture is pouredback into the reservoir.

1 There is invariably a small amount of moisture which condenses outsideof the cylindrical wall 65f. In order to prevent this moisture fromleaking through the hinge into the housing 12 when the cover is moved tothe vertical position. a low baffle wall 65g is provided. The wall 65gextends above the top wall 28 except at its midpoint where two wallportions meet at an apex 6511. This apex 65h is located above the edgeof the reservoir 25 so that water which runs down the cover 65 when itis in its vertical position tends to run toward the apex 65h and pourback into the reservoir 65 when the cover 65 is moved to the horizontalposition. Thus, with the cylindrical wall 651' which extends somewhatinto the reservoir 65 and the baffle 65g which is located entirely abovethe upper edge of the reservoir 65, all the condensation on the cover 65is returned to the reservoir Turning now to the electrical connectionsfor the appliance 11. there is provided a power cord 68 which has asuitable plug on the outer end and extends inwardly through theopening69 at the lower rear portion of the housing 12 into the cord storagespace 16. Toward the top' of the space 16 there are provided a bar ofspaced posts .70 and 71 as are best shown in FIG. 3. These posts arespaced a distance from wall 72 so that the power cord 68 can be loopedaround post 70 with a double line of cord fitting snuggly'between thepost 71 .and the wall 72. This arrangement of the posts provides aninexpensive strain relief for the end of the cord attached to theappliance 11. After extending through the strain relief, the power cordextends upwardly through an opening 73 in the wall 70 and is connectedto the heating element and thermostat in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

One side of the power cord is connected directly to the heating element27 with a signal light 74 shown schematically in FIG. 11 and shownpictorially in FIGS. 2 and 3 connected in parallel with the heatingelement. The other side of the line is connected to the terminal 38 ofthe thermostat 34. The terminal 37 of the thermostat is connected by afuse link 75 to the other end of the-heating element 27.v I

,ln the operation of the appliance 11 a quantity of .water to be heatedis placed in the reservoir 25 and the heat actuator bar 44 is depressed.This action pivots the lever causing the inner end portions 400 toengage the reset button 39 which closes the thermostat 34 completing thecircuit to the heating element 27. The energization of the heatingelement 27 causes the parallel connected signal light 74 to be lit, thisbeing feasible through alensv 73 mounted in an opening in the front wall22 of the housing 12. In the preferred embodiment, the heatingelement 27had a rating of 1,450 watts at 120 volt A.C .,-This large wattageheating elemakes it necessary for the thermostat to be calibratedto turnoff at approximately l75F rather than near the boiling point which isthe desired temperature for the water being heated. When the thermostat34 senses the l75F temperature, it opens the circuit cutting off thepower to the heating element 27 and extinguishing the signal light 74.The user of the appliance then knows that the water contained in thereservoir has been heated to the proper temperature. He then places acup or other small vessel on the base portion 17 beneath the waterdischarge from the valve 47 and depresses the valve actuating bar 61.This action causes the lever 57 to be rotated whereby the portion 57bengages the rod 49 opening the valve 47 and permitting the water in thereservoir 25 to discharge downwardly into the cup or vessel.

In the meantime. there will be some water condens-v The light weight ofthe reservoir and the fast heatingcycle permits the reservoir 25 to bemounted directly on the plastic housing without causing any damage tothe plastic. In spite of the high temperatures produced at the surfaceof the sheathed heating element 27, the supporting flange or lip 25dattains a temperature of only about l75F at the time the water is at thedesired temperature of just below the boiling point.

While there has been shown and described a particu- 'lar embodiment ofthe present invention. it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the invention in its broader aspects, and it is, therefore,contemplated in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thepresent'invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. A water heating appliance comprising a housing of plastic heatinsulating material having a base, a support extending upwardly fromsaid base, and a reservoir enclosing portion; said base including meansfor supporting a small open vessel adjacent to said support; saidreservoir enclosing portion having a top wall with an opening formedtherein and a closure for said opening; a lightweight reservoir of drawnsheet metal having a low heat capacity and being cup shaped with a mouthprovided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange; said reservoirbeing received in said reservoir enclosing'portion with said flange insealed engagement with said top wall; a sheathed heating element havingboiling point; said thermostat being mounted in the bottom of saidreservoir extending through an opening to respond to the temperature ofthe water within said reservoir; a bottom outlet in said reservoir;manually operable valve means connected to said bottom outlet to controlthe flow of water from said reservoir and having dispensing meansextending outwardly from said reservoir enclosing portion above saidvessel support means to discharge water into said vessel.

2. The combination of claim 1 including first lever means pivotallymounted on said reservoir enclosing portion and engagable with saidvalve means to control the flow of water from said reservoir, and secondlever means pivotally mounted on said reservoir enclosing portion andengagable with said thermostatic switch to reset it.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said valve means includes aplastic housing and is rigidly supported on the inside of said reservoirenclosing portion with said dispensing means extending downwardlythrough an opening in the bottom of said reservoir enclosing portion, asilicone rubber tube providing a fluid connection between said reservoirand valve means.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said c osure includes a flat bodyportion which overlies the mouth of said reservoir and a peripherallydisposed downwardly extending lip on said body portion, said closurehaving a downwardly extending cylindrical wall which is spaced from andprojects into said reservoir to restrict water condensation to the areaof said closure within said cylindrical wall, said lip being positionedoutwardly of said cylindrical wall and engaging said top wallsurrounding said reservoir.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said closure is pivoted to saidhousing by a hinge formed in part by one edge of said closure lip, saidclosure having a condensate flow baffle which extends across said bodyportion between said hinge and said cylindrical wall to direct the flowof condensation deposited on said closure outside of said cylindricalwall back into said reservoir when said closure is opened and closed.

6. A water-boiling appliance comprising a small capacity reservoir beingof cup shape with a heating element in good heat exchange relation withthe bottom wall thereof, said reservoir having a bottom outlet a housingwhich supports said reservoir" with said outlet above a recessed pocketin which a cup or receptacle may be placed, said housing having a topopening in which said reservoir is received, said reservoir being formedat the mouth thereof, with a flange which overlies the housing portiondefining said opening and being sealed thereto by a sealant material. acover for said reservoir pivoted to said housing, said cover having adownwardly extending cylindrical wall which is spaced from and projectsinto said reservoir to restrict water condensation to the area of saidcover within said cylindrical wall. said cover includes a flat bodyportion which overlies the mouth of said reservoir and a peripherallydisposed outwardly extending lip on said body portion. said lip beingpositioned outwardly of said cylindrical wall and engaging said housingsurrounding said reservoir, said cover being pivoted to said housing bya hinge formed in part by one edge of said cover lip, said wallextending from said closure a distance greater than the distance fromthe mouth of said reservoir to said hinge.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said cover has a condensate flowbaffle which extends across said body portion between said hinge andsaid cylindrical wall to direct the flow of condensation on said coveroutside of said cylindrical wall back into said reservoir when saidcover is opened and closed.

8. An appliance for heating water comprising an upright housing havingan enclosure at the upper portion thereof and a recessed pocket toreceive a container at the lower portion thereof, said housing having abase defining the bottom of said pocket and supporting said housing, acup-shaped water reservoir mounted in said upper portion, said reservoirhaving a high wattage sheathed heating element brazed to the bottom ofsaid reservoir, a manually resetable thermostat extending through thewall of said reservoir into the interior thereof, said thermostat beingmanually resetable by means of a first lever which is pivoted withinsaid upper portion of said housing and extends to the exterior thereof,a manually operable valve for dispensing water from said reservoir, saidvalve being positioned in conduit means extending from said reservoir tothe upper portion of said pocket, a second lever mounted in said housingadjacent said first lever and being manually operable to open saidvalve, a signal light supported on said housing and connected in circuitwith said heating element to indicate that said heating element isenergized, said housing including a closure plate for a rearwardlyfacing opening, a cover for said reservoir hingedly connected to saidhousing, a hinge for said cover formed by forwardly facing channels onsaid plate in which axle members on said cover are received.

1. A water heating appliance comprising a housing of plastic heatinsulating material having a base, a support extending upwardly fromsaid base, and a reservoir enclosing portion; said base including meansfor supporting a small open vessel adjacent to said support; saidreservoir enclosing portion having a top wall with an opening formedtherein and a closure for said opening; a lightweight reservoir of drawnsheet metal having a low heat capacity and being cup shaped with a mouthprovided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange; said reservoirbeing received in said reservoir enclosing portion with said flange insealed engagement with said top wall; a sheathed heating element havinga wattage in excess of 1,000 watts brazed to the bottom of saidreservoir; a manually resettable thermostatic switch secured to saidreservoir and responsive to open the electrical circuit to said heatingelement when the water in said reservoir is at a temperature below theboiling point; said thermostat being mounted in the bottom of saidreservoir extending through an opening to respond to the temperature ofthe water within said reservoir; a bottom outlet in said reservoir;manually operable valve means connected to said bottom outlet to controlthe flow of water from said reservoir and having dispensing meansextending outwardly from said reservoir enclosing portion above saidvessel support means to discharge water into said vessel.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 including first lever means pivotally mounted onsaid reservoir enclosing portion and engagable with said valve means tocontrol the flow of water from said reservoir, and second lever meanspivotally mounted on said reservoir enclosing portion and engagable withsaid thermostatic switch to reset it.
 3. The combination of claim 2wherein said valve means includes a plastic housing and is rigidlysupported on the inside of said reservoir enclosing portion with saiddispensing means extending downwardly through an opening in the bottomof said reservoir enclosing portion, a silicone rubber tube providing afluid connection between said reservoir and valve means.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said closure includes a flat body portionwhich overlies the mouth of said reservoir and a peripherally disposeddownwardly extending lip on said body portion, said closure having adownwardly extending cylindrical wall which is spaced from and projectsinto said reservoir to restrict water condensation to the area of saidclosure within said cylindrical wall, said lip being positionedoutwardly of said cylindrical wall and engaging said top wallsurrounding said reservoir.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein saidclosure is pivoted to said housing by a hinge formed in part by one edgeof said closure lip, said closure having a condensate flow baffle whichextends across said body portion between said hinge and said cylindricalwall to direct the flow of condensation deposited on said closureOutside of said cylindrical wall back into said reservoir when saidclosure is opened and closed.
 6. A water-boiling appliance comprising asmall capacity reservoir being of cup shape with a heating element ingood heat exchange relation with the bottom wall thereof, ''''saidreservoir having a bottom outlet a housing which supports saidreservoir'''' with said outlet above a recessed pocket in which a cup orreceptacle may be placed, said housing having a top opening in whichsaid reservoir is received, said reservoir being formed at the mouththereof, with a flange which overlies the housing portion defining saidopening and being sealed thereto by a sealant material, a cover for saidreservoir pivoted to said housing, said cover having a downwardlyextending cylindrical wall which is spaced from and projects into saidreservoir to restrict water condensation to the area of said coverwithin said cylindrical wall, said cover includes a flat body portionwhich overlies the mouth of said reservoir and a peripherally disposedoutwardly extending lip on said body portion, said lip being positionedoutwardly of said cylindrical wall and engaging said housing surroundingsaid reservoir, said cover being pivoted to said housing by a hingeformed in part by one edge of said cover lip, said wall extending fromsaid closure a distance greater than the distance from the mouth of saidreservoir to said hinge.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein saidcover has a condensate flow baffle which extends across said bodyportion between said hinge and said cylindrical wall to direct the flowof condensation on said cover outside of said cylindrical wall back intosaid reservoir when said cover is opened and closed.
 8. An appliance forheating water comprising an upright housing having an enclosure at theupper portion thereof and a recessed pocket to receive a container atthe lower portion thereof, said housing having a base defining thebottom of said pocket and supporting said housing, a cup-shaped waterreservoir mounted in said upper portion, said reservoir having a highwattage sheathed heating element brazed to the bottom of said reservoir,a manually resetable thermostat extending through the wall of saidreservoir into the interior thereof, said thermostat being manuallyresetable by means of a first lever which is pivoted within said upperportion of said housing and extends to the exterior thereof, a manuallyoperable valve for dispensing water from said reservoir, said valvebeing positioned in conduit means extending from said reservoir to theupper portion of said pocket, a second lever mounted in said housingadjacent said first lever and being manually operable to open saidvalve, a signal light supported on said housing and connected in circuitwith said heating element to indicate that said heating element isenergized, said housing including a closure plate for a rearwardlyfacing opening, a cover for said reservoir hingedly connected to saidhousing, a hinge for said cover formed by forwardly facing channels onsaid plate in which axle members on said cover are received.